01/09/1978 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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"On the immediate horizon is the proposed systems development charges, a hard -wrought effort at shi fting a portion of the cost of arterial streets and major sanitary and storm sewer lines from existing to new development. That proposal will be considered in a public hearing schedul ed for .January 23. e "Another year's long effort at uchieving financial relief for Eugene citizens was successful last year when the Legislature approved state revenue sharing. The Budget Committee used Eugene's allocation of roughly $500,000 as a property tax offset, thereby reducing the City's property tax rate by some $.37 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. \ "Here a wore! of thanks is in order, this time to our local legislators for their outstanding support of this much-need assistance to our cities-- and relief to the property tax payers. We are grateful that the Legislature resisted the temptation to "earmark" the funds, trusting, instead, that the cities would expend them thoughtfully and responsibly. "Still ahead, of course, is convincing the 1979 Legislature that revenue sharing must continue in order to ease the threat posed to home ownership by further increase in the property tax. "Another perennial problem for which some resolution must be forthcoming is open field burning. At the administrative and legal level we are trying hard to iron out problems caused by the majority of the Legislature failing to support Eugene's position in regard to this virulent form of air pollution. It is our earnest hope that one of these years we can lay this issue permanently to rest. ~ "The results of a major effort at involving citizens In our decision making will become available on Thursday of this week when the Budget Committee receives the report of our first city-wide survey of citizen opinion on City services and policies. We'll be taking a close look at the data collected from more than a thousand households as a guide to budget ullocations. By telephone or personal interview, many people who can't or don't participate in government through public meetings or other means have been given a chance to make their preferences known. While the survey results can't be considered a mandate, they provide a useful source of information not available to us through any other means including the ballot box, for many non-voters were included in the survey sample. "In clsoing, I have a rather personal word for the Council. As Mayor, on behalf of all the citizens, I want to thank you for your time, for your commitment-.---ror your candor -- and for the sense of humor that has carried us Over the rough spots of some very candid moments! In the frustration of trying to do our best, of trying to do a full-time and perfect job when we are only part-time and human, we tend to overlook our accomplishments ane! those accomplishments have been many. Let me note just a few: e " Minutes 1/9/78 -- 4 ~,,"l